On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 06:21:50 -0500, hkrause wrote:

thunder wrote:
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:59:01 -0500, John H wrote:


Where'd the left go?


You know, John, before you get to excited, you might want to consider what
is happening in Lebanon. Lebanon has either been a functioning democracy
or in a state of Civil War since it's independence. I would suggest that
a ex-Prime Minister's assassination, and various factions resorting to
street demonstrations, shows how precarious Lebanon's situation is.
Fortunately, the demonstrations have been peaceful, but unfortunately,
that could change. Before you celebrate Syria's withdrawal, consider they
were the stabilizing force that ended the 15 year Civil War.


Prior to the Syrians enforcing a truce in Lebanon, the country's
inhabitants lined up against each other and engaged in civil war. Last
week's demonstration "in favor" of the Syrians was conducted by the
Shi'ites. The one the other day was conducted by the Sunnis, the Druze,
and those Christians who have not gotten out of there. Of the latter
three, the Druze are the most interesting, at least to me.

In any event, it looks as if the sides are lining up again, and I
wouldn't bet against another Lebanese civil war. The Syrians have always
believed Lebanon was part of Syria, which explains why it is always
intervening in Lebanese affairs and occupying one part of the country or
another.

It is naive and premature to try to predict the outcome of any of the
current situations in the Middle East. Most of the Arab or Moslem
countries there have been ruled by one despot after another, even after
revolutions and coups aimed at removing "a harsh dictator." There is no
democracy operating in Afghanistan, even though it had some troubling
elections, and the same is true in Iraq. In the end, the people there
will decide for themselves what it is they want, and historically, it is
the people with the guns on their side who dictate the terms.

Another name for my filter. Goodbye.

--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."